Lindeman - Shiraz @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Give this Shiraz ample time to breathe and you will have yourself one indulgent glass of red! At first taste, this wine left me unimpressed, however, after ample breathing room and a little patience, this wine delivered surprisingly good results. This is an important rule for all red wine drinkers to uphold--ALWAYS give your red time to breathe, to bring out its flavors, its complexity, its personality...
I don't deal with grief very well. My entire life my family has lived far away from me. One half of my family lives in the Southern United States while the other half is located in Quebec, Canada. Even into my young adult life, I've somehow found myself many times in long distance relationships---the only exception being my current relationship, to whom I am engaged to be married. I moved to Florida in part to seek a warmer climate, but also to become more acquainted with my Grandfather. I just found out today that he has endured a 3rd stroke (he is 91 years old).

By my saying I do not deal with grief well, by no means do I intend to say that I am in hysterics. I simply do not react how most would expect. There are no tears. It seems that almost every major crisis has been brought to my attention over the phone. In each moment of intensity, I lose my breath, a ball welling within my throat. The response is delayed---days away I might finally feel the release.

I'm saddened to the point that my hands shake and I have a difficult time concentrating and forming my words---this entire blog entry has taken me much too long to write. Constant re-wording, re-working, re-imagining what I mean to say, simply because, I can't find the words.

The first time he had a stroke, I was a day shy of graduating from college. Now, I'm looking forward to my marriage and I feel privileged that it seemed he would be around. Now...who knows. I'm hopeful, he's a fighter even at 91, but I'm worried. And I just can't find the words...

Lindeman - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $4.87-$6.99 (Wal-Mart / most grocery stores)

First off, I have some very exciting news. This past month my live-in boyfriend and I became engaged! On 12/4/09, he proposed at the dog park where we met (yeah, we met at the dog park, no, he does not have a dog, he was there with his sister---I have a poodle). It was pouring rain out, we were supposed to be going out to dinner and a movie and he took a "wrong turn" and suddenly we were at the place where we met. He dragged me out of his truck and dropped down to one knee in the pouring rain and said: "This is where I first asked you out on a date and this is where I'd like to ask you to be my wife." Funnier still, I got engaged around 6:30pm, it wasn't until 9:30pm at night before I could get a hold of either one of my parents. Mom was in Quebec visiting relatives and Dad, recently retired, is in a folk band and had practice. I must have called both of them about 100 times a piece until I finally got someone on the phone--there was no way I could allow myself to call anyone else until they knew. To bide my time while waiting and re-dialing, I browsed wedding dresses on The Knot while killing a bottle of Kitchen Sink red wine.

In other exciting news, I've teamed up with the good ladies at Silly Goose Travel , two co-workers who have a passion for food, travel and all the wonderful things in life. From time to time we will be guest blogging on eachothers' websites.

Back to the wine... Lindeman's Merlot was probably one of the first wines I ever sampled. My parents always kept it in-stock at our home due to its inexpensive price tag and flavorful presence. My Grandfather and Step-Grandmother, here in Florida, have caught on to this brand and so there isn't a cocktail-hour-visit with them that doesn't include a Lindeman's bottle.

I recently became re-aquainted with this Australian varietal when Wal-Mart put them on sale for $4.97 a bottle (!!!) Full-bodied and bold, Lindeman's Merlot is full of rich berry and tannin flavor. For the price, you really can't beat this wine for its richness and complexity. I've sampled wines priced at x10 the amount that haven't tasted as beautifully as this Merlot.